The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may cost America $3 trillion, a far cry from the $50 billion estimated when combat began. How did the expenses get so high? How long will it take to pay them off? Will the benefits be worth the money? Also, Florida and Michigan lobby to seat Democratic delegates, and saber rattling and diplomacy in South America.

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The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may cost America $3 trillion, a far cry from the $50 billion estimated when combat began. How did the expenses get so high? How long will it take to pay them off? Will the benefits be worth the money? Also, Florida and Michigan lobby to seat Democratic delegates. On Reporter’s Notebook, will Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador settle their differences without going to war?

Banner image: President Bush embraces Daniel Murphy, father of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, prior to the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on October 22, 2007. The lieutenant was killed during a reconnaisance mission in Afghanistan, while exposing himself to enemy fire in order to call in support after his four-man team came under attack by enemy forces on June 28, 2005.

Democrats in Florida and Michigan broke party rules by holding their primaries earlier than they were supposed to. The candidates agreed not to campaign in those states and not to let their delegates be seated at the August convention. Hillary Clinton won, but with the race so close between Clinton and Barack Obama, Democrats are taking a new look. Roger Simon writes for Politico.com.

When the Iraq invasion was launched, Pentagon officials said it would be financed in large part by Iraqi oil money. The estimated for the United States was $50 billion. Five years later, the reality is higher by orders of magnitude. A Nobel Prize winning economist pegs the cost at $3 trillion. That includes combat, debt on borrowed money and restoring the military, not to mention the staggering cost of caring for wounded veterans for the rest of their lives. We hear how the expenses got so high and what they'll mean for the economy, future generations and national security.

Colombia's air strike in Ecuador killed an important leader of the FARC rebel group, but Ecuador denounced the raid as a violation of sovereignty. The Organization of American States has now passed a resolution that satisfied both those countries. But Colombia is headed to the UN, complaining that Ecuador and Venezuela are actively supporting the FARC. Chris Kraul reports from Bogota, Colombia for the Los Angeles Times.